Scottish Parliament

Written Answers

Thursday 28 October 1999

Scottish Executive

Digital Television

Mr Duncan Hamilton (Highlands and Islands) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1O-1044 by Mr Sam Galbraith on 14 October 1999, whether it will ask the Department of Media, Culture and Sport to ensure that analogue transmissions will not be switched off until blanket digital coverage within the Highlands & Islands is achieved.

Mr Sam Galbraith: The Scottish Executive will maintain close contact with the Department for Culture, Media and Sport over the arrangements to be made for the switch-over to digital television, including the issue of coverage.

Education

Rhoda Grant (Highlands and Islands) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will give a breakdown on how music tuition is funded by local authorities throughout Scotland.

Mr Sam Galbraith: In Scotland, music and instrumental tuition are curriculum matters and as such are the responsibility of education authorities and head teachers. It is for councils to meet demand from current levels of funding, to determine their own spending priorities and the detailed allocations of the resources made available in the annual local government finance settlements. The level of funding directed to music tuition by local authorities is not determined centrally.

Education

Ms Irene Oldfather (Cunninghame South) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it is taking any steps to attract more people from minority ethnic groups into teacher education.

Mr Sam Galbraith: We actively promote teaching as a career through a range of recruitment and publicity measures. At career events and on other occasions the Department takes every opportunity to encourage people from ethnic minority groups into teaching.

Education

Richard Lochhead (North-East Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will provide details of the plans to increase provision of new computers and other information technology for primary and secondary schools including details of any plans for the North East of Scotland; whether it intends to provide full-time computer technicians at each school and whether it intends to provide information technology training for all teachers.

Mr Sam Galbraith: The Scottish Executive is supporting local authorities’ plans for information and communications technology through the Excellence Fund. The resources available to local authorities in the North East of Scotland are as follows:

  

 

1999-2000 
  


2000-01 
  


2001-02 
  


Total 
  




Aberdeen City 
  

£ 803,554 
  

£ 830,963 
  

£ 482,953 
  

£ 2,116,470 
  



Aberdeenshire 
  

£ 1,104,464 
  

£ 1,143,560 
  

£ 664,633 
  

£ 2,912,657 
  



Angus 
  

£ 509,571 
  

£ 527,609 
  

£ 306,645 
  

£ 1,343,825 
  



Dundee City 
  

£ 633,400 
  

£ 655,821 
  

£ 381,161 
  

£ 1,670,382 
  



TOTAL 
  

£ 3,049,989 
  

£ 3,157,953 
  

£ 1,835,392 
  

£ 8,043,334 
  



  The detailed implementation, including decisions on technical support, is a matter for the local authorities concerned.

  Training in the use of information and communications technology will be available to all serving Scottish teachers and school librarians from the New Opportunities Fund. £23 million is available for Scotland until March 2002, of which £ 3,002,756 is allocated to teachers and school librarians in the North East of Scotland.

  Student’s currently undergoing initial teacher education will receive training in the use of information and communications technology as a component of their course.

Education

Mrs Margaret Smith (Edinburgh West) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive what its estimate is of the increase in money for education that will be available in 2000-01 to City of Edinburgh and West Lothian councils as a consequence of the £80 million extra spending for education announced by the Finance Minister on 6 October.

Peter Peacock: The additional money for education announced by Jack McConnell on 6 October has been widely welcomed. Detailed allocations of education resources for Councils will be made as part of the local government finance settlement towards the end of the year.

Education

Nicola Sturgeon (Glasgow) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what is the timescale for submissions to the McCrone inquiry into teachers’ pay and conditions.

Peter Peacock: The timescale for submissions is a matter for the independent Committee of Inquiry.

Education

Donald Gorrie (Central Scotland) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive what its estimate is of the increase in money for education that will be available in 2000-01 to North Lanarkshire, Falkirk and East Ayrshire councils as a consequence of the £80 million extra spending for education announced by the Finance Minister on 6 October.

Peter Peacock: The additional money for education announced by Jack McConnell on 6 October has been widely welcomed. Detailed allocations of education resources for Councils will be made as part of the local government finance settlement towards the end of the year.

Education

Mr Gil Paterson (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether, in the light of its intention to remove the statutory basis of the SJNC, it will set out a timetable for the implementation of the relevant legislation to ensure that the current maximum composite class size of 25 is maintained, that the current maximum class size of 33 in the upper primary and secondary is maintained, and that the current maximum class size of 20 in practical classes is maintained.

Peter Peacock: Legislative provisions allowing regulations to be made already exists in the form of section 2 of the Education (Scotland) Act 1980. Further consideration of the need for regulations under this power will follow from consultation on the recommendation of the Committee of Inquiry being chaired by Professor McCrone.

Elderly People

Alex Neil (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-1237 by Iain Gray on 14 September 1999, how much funding it is contributing to the UK telephone helpline run by Action on Elderly Abuse.

Iain Gray: We are providing grant funding of £10,500 over three years (from 1997-98) towards a UK telephone helpline run by Action on Elder Abuse.

Environment

Mr Andrew Welsh (Angus) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has any plans to introduce legislation restricting the use of lead shot for shooting.

Sarah Boyack: The Scottish Executive is considering whether to implement restrictions on the use of lead shot in Scotland.

Finance

Mr Kenneth Gibson (Glasgow) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has to relax capping limits for Scottish local authorities.

Mr Jack McConnell: The Executive has no plans to issue capping limits to Scottish local authorities.

Food

Fergus Ewing (Inverness East, Nairn and Lochaber) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what consultations there will be in relation to the Draft Dairy Products (Hygiene) (Scotland) Regulations (1999); what consideration it has given to the impact which these regulations will have on the Scottish farmhouse cheese makers industry; how many jobs in Scotland will be affected by these regulations, and how many of these jobs are located in rural Scotland.

Susan Deacon: The Draft Dairy Products (Hygiene) (Scotland) Regulations 1999 were sent out for public consultation on 23 August 1999. Replies to the consultation were requested by 11 October 1999.

  It is not envisaged that these draft Regulations would have a significant effect on the Scottish farmhouse cheesemaking industry – including all jobs. The consultation includes a Regulatory Impact Assessment on the proposed Regulations and comments have been sought on these assessments. The very small number of farmhouse cheesemakers are predominantly located in rural Scotland.

  The replies received to the consultation process will be carefully considered.

Food

Fergus Ewing (Inverness East, Nairn and Lochaber) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive why it is seeking to introduce the Draft Dairy Products (Hygiene) (Scotland) Regulations (1999).

Susan Deacon: The Draft Dairy Products (Hygiene) (Scotland) Regulations 1999 are being introduced to consolidate, amend and update the Dairy Products (Hygiene) (Scotland) Regulations 1995. Amendment and updating is necessary in order to implement community decisions and to act on advice of the Advisory Committee on the Microbiological Safety of Food (ACMSF) in relation to the pasteurisation of goats, sheep and buffaloes drinking milk.

Fuel Poverty

Mr Lloyd Quinan (West of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what the time-scale is for the implementation of a review of fuel poverty and energy efficiency in Scotland.

Mr Frank McAveety: The Warm Deal was introduced on 1 July and will play a vital part in tackling fuel poverty and promoting energy efficiency. It is the largest single package of home insulation measures available to low-income families in Scotland and has a budget of £12 million. The Warm Deal has been widely welcomed. We will keep it under review to ensure that it continues to meet its aims.

Genetically Modified Crops

Mr Kenny MacAskill (Lothians) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive, in the light of recent scientific reports concerning the safety of genetically modified crops and the distance over which cross pollination can occur, what action is being proposed regarding the planting of experimental genetically modified crops.

Ross Finnie: The possible effects of pollen transfer are fully considered in the risk assessment undertaken by the independent Advisory Committee on Releases to the Environment (ACRE).

  As part of its considerations, ACRE takes into account issues such as farm ecology, farming practice and biodiversity and provides detailed limits and conditions for growing which are set out in a schedule and which must be adhered to by consent holders.

Health

Paul Martin (Glasgow Springburn) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will arrange for a referendum among the local community served by Stobhill Hospital to take place on the proposal to build a secure unit at the hospital.

Susan Deacon: As I have stated previously this important issue is most appropriately resolved at a local level. It is for Greater Glasgow Health Board to engage in discussion and dialogue with their local communities on the proposals to develop a Local Forensic Unit at Stobhill Hospital.

Health

Paul Martin (Glasgow Springburn) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will provide details of any proposals to withdraw any of the acute services currently provided at Stobhill Hospital over the next five financial years.

Susan Deacon: Greater Glasgow Health Board’s 1999-2000 Health Improvement Programme (HIP) makes a number of statements about the future of acute services at Stobhill Hospital. The HIP is revised each year and its development includes public meetings and briefings for local communities on proposed services. Any specific proposals requiring significant change to services at Stobhill would also require public consultation.

Health

Mike Watson (Glasgow Cathcart) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has to submit views on the Biosafety Protocol to Her Majesty’s Government.

Susan Deacon: Negotiations on the Biosafety Protocol resume in January 2000 and Scottish Ministers will play an active part in developing the UK’s approach to the EU regulatory position.

Health

Dorothy-Grace Elder (Glasgow) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-765 by Susan Deacon on 8 September 1999, what future plans does it have to consult local people about the creation of a secure unit at Stobhill Hospital, Glasgow.

Susan Deacon: Local consultation with communities is an important responsibility of Trusts and Health Boards. I understand that Greater Glasgow have recently held a series of public meetings about the proposals to develop a Local Forensic Unit at Stobhill. The outcome of these meetings will be considered at the November Health Board meeting.

Health

Fiona McLeod (West of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question number S1W-553 by Susan Deacon on 29 July 1999, what constitutes a "significant change of use of a hospital".

Susan Deacon: There is no hard and fast rule about what constitutes a significant change of use of a hospital. However, The Scottish Executive has made it clear that we expect Health Boards and Trusts to engage and consult with the public in the planning and delivery of services locally.

Health

Kay Ullrich (West of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether spending on mental health in Scotland has fallen behind spending on the NHS in Scotland in general and, if so, why.

Iain Gray: Spending on mental health has been stable at around 14.5% of all NHS spend since 1996, consistent with the view that mental health continues to be a priority for the Health Service in Scotland.

Health

Tavish Scott (Shetland) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will meet the Shetland Health Board in Shetland to enable the Board to present its views on the proposed Arbuthnott formula, and whether it will then give further consideration to any proposals which the Board makes.

Susan Deacon: As part of the Arbuthnott consultation exercise officials from the Scottish Executive met Shetland Health Board in Shetland on 6 September 1999 to explain the proposals and hear the Boards’ views. The Board took the opportunity to present a fulsome response to the proposals, and as a result officials have agreed to examine a number of issues which were raised.

Prime Minister

Dennis Canavan (Falkirk West): To ask the Scottish Executive what is on the agenda for the next meeting between the First Minister and the Prime Minister.

Donald Dewar: We will discuss matters of mutual interest.

Prison Service

Alex Neil (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what is the value of Scottish Prison Service contract with Premier Prison Services for the current financial year and the next five financial years.

Mr Jim Wallace: The contract is between the Scottish Prison Service and Kilmarnock Prison Services Limited, not Premier Prison Services. The net present value of the contract over the full 25 years is about £130 million and over the first six years is about £52 million. (Both figures exclude VAT).

Prison Service

Alex Neil (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive to provide details of the number of prisoners currently held in Kilmarnock Prison, the duration of sentences, the classification of offences which prisoners have committed and where the prisoners came from.

Mr Jim Wallace: Kilmarnock Prison currently holds about 500 prisoners. Kilmarnock holds male prisoners on remand as well as the full range of adult male convicted prisoners whose sentences vary from a few weeks to indeterminate life sentences. This reflects the range of offences committed. Approximately half of the prisoners currently at Kilmarnock Prison were transferred there from other Scottish prisons. Others were admitted to the prison from the local courts.

Prison Service

Alex Neil (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has undertaken an independent audit of the financial affairs of Premier Prison Services, and whether it will review the relationship between Premier Prison Service and Wackenhut Correction Corporation of the United States.

Mr Jim Wallace: I am advised by the Scottish Prison Service that neither exercise is, in their view, justified in current circumstances.

Prison Service

Alex Neil (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what requirements are placed on Premier Prison Services in respect of recruitment, employment and training of staff at Kilmarnock Prison.

Mr Jim Wallace: All new members of staff are required to undergo security vetting. Potential Prisoner Custody Officers have to meet defined minimum academic standards and have a physical examination prior to employment. They must meet certain standards of physical fitness for the job. Where functions are to be carried out by specialists, members of staff must hold the appropriate specialist qualifications. All relevant employment legislation must be complied with. All training standards require to be approved by the Scottish Prison Service and some of the training is, in fact, carried out by the Scottish Prison Service.

Prison Service

Alex Neil (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will provide details of any breach of Kilmarnock Prison’s operating contract with the Scottish Prison Service including details of what the breaches have been, when did they occur, how often and what action has been taken.

Mr Jim Wallace: There has been no breach of contract.

Prison Service

Alex Neil (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will make a statement on the current position of Trade Union representation at Kilmarnock Prison.

Mr Jim Wallace: This is a matter for Kilmarnock Prison Services Limited.

Rural Affairs

Mr Duncan Hamilton (Highlands and Islands) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether its policy in relation to the Agricultural Business Improvement Scheme is the same as that outlined by The Scottish Office in February 1999.

Ross Finnie: Various changes to the Agricultural Business Improvement Scheme (ABIS) were introduced in March 1999, following suggestions from farming and crofting organisations. These changes came into effect on 31 March 1999.

  Since then, applications to the Scheme have far exceeded the expectations of both the industry and the Executive. Accordingly, and as announced on 1 October, all applications outstanding as of 1 August will be assessed to ensure that those approved meet a list of priorities. The Executive is currently consulting industry organisations on those priorities.

Rural Affairs

Mr Duncan Hamilton (Highlands and Islands) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what the total value of applications received under the Agricultural Business Improvement Scheme was in the current year and the two previous years and how much funding was available, from all sources, to meet this demand in each of these years.

Ross Finnie: The total value of grant applications received in 1997 and 1998 under the Agricultural Business Improvement Scheme (ABIS) were £3.6 million and £2.6 million respectively. These were subsequently approved.

  During 1999, the number and value of applications has increased, and by mid-October grant applications to the value of £10 million had been assessed, with approvals issued totalling £4 million. A further 1,000 applications have still to be assessed and more are anticipated before the Scheme closure date of 31 October 1999.

  As announced on 1 October, all applications outstanding as of 1 August will be assessed to ensure that those approved meet a list of priorities. The Executive is currently consulting industry organisations on those priorities.

Scottish Adjacent Waters Boundary

Richard Lochhead (North-East Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it intends to commission an independent legal opinion to determine the validity of the Scottish Adjacent Waters Boundary Order 1999.

Mr John Home Robertson: No.

Social Inclusion

Alex Neil (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-884 by Ms Wendy Alexander on 27 September 1999, whether it will provide an itemised breakdown of the £1.2 million allocated to the dedicated teams to improve programme delivery and co-ordination.

Ms Wendy Alexander: A breakdown of the £1.2 million referred to in my previous answer (S1W-884) is given in the tables below.

  


1999-2000


ALLOCATION 
  




Capital City Partnership 
  

£120,000 
  



Dundee 1 SIP 
  

£90,000 
  



Glasgow Alliance* 
  

£683,000 
  



Great Northern (Aberdeen) SIP 
  

£60,000 
  



Motherwell North SIP 
  

£90,000 
  



North Edinburgh SIP 
  

£60,000 
  



North Ayr SIP 
  

£60,000 
  



West Dunbartonshire SIP 
  

£120,000 
  



TOTAL 
  

£1,283,000 
  



  * The Glasgow Alliance overall allocation of £683,000 includes contributions of £74,000 towards the support costs of each of three Glasgow SIPs: Glasgow East End, Glasgow North and Greater Easterhouse.

  





Employee costs 
  


Accommodation 
  


Travel & 
  subsistence 


Office furniture 
  & equipment 




Capital City Partnership 
  

£48,000 
  

³ 
  

¹ 
  

£2,000 
  



Dundee 1 SIP 
  

£88,033 
  

³ 
  

£1,967 
  

³ 
  



Glasgow Alliance 
  

£242,000 
  

£43,000 
  

£5,000 
  

£7,000 
  



Great Northern SIP 
  

£43,875 
  

£2,625 
  

£1,125 
  

£2,625 
  



Motherwell North SIP 
  

£72,693 
  

£8,600 
  

¹ 
  

² 
  



North Edinburgh SIP 
  

£56,390 
  

³ 
  

³ 
  

³ 
  



North Ayr SIP 
  

£60,000 
  

³ 
  

³ 
  

³ 
  



West Dunbartonshire SIP 
  

£120,000 
  

³ 
  

³ 
  

³ 
  



ITEMISED TOTALS 
  

£730,991 
  

£54,225 
  

£8,092 
  

£11,625 
  



  





Training 
  


Office Administration 
  


Partnership Development/
Consultancies/
  Evaluation 


Information technology 
  




Capital City Partnership 
  

¹ 
  

£27,000 
  

£43,000 
  

- 
  



Dundee 1 SIP 
  

³ 
  

³ 
  

³ 
  

³ 
  



Glasgow Alliance 
  

£25,000 
  

£24,000 
  

£112,000 
  

£3,000 
  



Great Northern SIP 
  

£3,000 
  

£4,125 
  

³ 
  

£2,625 
  



Motherwell North SIP 
  

£8,707 
  

¹ 
  

³ 
  

² 
  



North Edinburgh SIP 
  

³ 
  

³ 
  

£3,610 
  

³ 
  



North Ayr SIP 
  

³ 
  

³ 
  

³ 
  

³ 
  



West Dunbartonshire SIP 
  

³ 
  

³ 
  

³ 
  

³ 
  



ITEMISED TOTALS 
  

£36,707 
  

£55,125 
  

£158,610 
  

£5,625 
  



  Notes:

  1. Included in employee costs.

  2. Included in accommodation costs.

  3. Funded from partner contributions.

Social Inclusion

Alex Neil (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-884 by Ms Wendy Alexander on 27 September 1999, whether it will list the administrative costs covered by the 2.5% of Social Inclusion Partnership revenue budgets allocated for this purpose.

Ms Wendy Alexander: The 2.5% of Social Inclusion Partnerships’ revenue budgets which can be allocated to meet administration costs covers the costs of administering the Social Inclusion Partnership Fund grant and includes councils’ staff costs, accommodation, printing, stationery, telephone charges, advertising and postage. Administration costs are claimed by councils who are responsible for administering the grant and a detailed breakdown for each SIP is not available. The amount of each revenue budget and the maximum claim for administration costs is set out in the table below.

  


Social Inclusion Partnership 
  


Revenue budget 
  for 1999-2000 (£) 


Maximum administration 
  costs claim (£) 




North Edinburgh 
  

2,256,000 
  

56,400 
  



Dundee 1 
  

2,337,000 
  

58,425 
  



Glasgow East End 
  

2,177,500 
  

54,437 
  



Glasgow North 
  

3,254,000 
  

81,350 
  



Greater Easterhouse 
  

2,800,000 
  

70,000 
  



Inverclyde Regeneration Partnership 
  

2,538,000 
  

63,450 
  



Motherwell North 
  

1,380,000 
  

34,500 
  



Paisley 
  

2,881,000 
  

72,025 
  



North Ayr 
  

1,133,000 
  

28,325 
  



West Dunbartonshire Partnership 
  

1,693,000 
  

42,325 
  



Great Northern (Aberdeen) 
  

809,000 
  

20,225 
  



Arbroath 
  

140,000 
  

3,500 
  



The Strategic Programme (Edinburgh) 
  

1,153,000 
  

28,825 
  



Dundee 2 
  

792,000 
  

19,800 
  



Levern Valley Partnership 
  

333,000 
  

8,325 
  



Falkirk Community Urban 
  

550,000 
  

13,750 
  



Fife 
  

751,000 
  

18,775 
  



North Ayrshire 
  

676,000 
  

16,900 
  



North Lanarkshire 
  

800,000 
  

20,000 
  



Stirling 
  

533,000 
  

13,325 
  



Cambuslang 
  

400,000 
  

10,000 
  



Drumchapel 
  

1,125,000 
  

28,125 
  



Glasgow: Care-leavers 
  

283,500 
  

7,087 
  



Glasgow: Routes out of Prostitution 
   
  

140,625 
  

3,515 
  



Glasgow: Ethnic Minorities* 
  









Gorbals* 
  









Greater Govan 
  

281,250 
  

7,031 
  



Greater Pollok 
  

1,035,000 
  

25,875 
  



Milton* 
  









Springburn* 
  









Argyll and Bute 
  

163,000 
  

4,075 
  



Alloa 
  

538,000 
  

13,450 
  



Dundee - Give Youth a Chance 
  

225,000 
  

5,625 
  



Dundee Young Carers 
  

46,000 
  

1,150 
  



East Ayrshire Coalfields Area 
  

487,000 
  

12,175 
  



Edinburgh - Excluded Young Adults 
  

184,500 
  

4,612 
  



Fife Ethnic Minorities* 
  









Girvan 
  

236,000 
  

5,900 
  



Highland Well-Being Alliance 
  

393,000 
  

9,825 
  



Moray Youthstart 
  

322,000 
  

8,050 
  



Perth and Kinross Care-leavers* 
  

 


 




Scottish Borders* 
  

 


 




South Edinburgh* 
  

 


 




South Coatbridge 
  

250,000 
  

6,250 
  



Tranent Youth and Community 
  

94,000 
  

2,350 
  



West Lothian 
  

188,000 
  

4,700 
  



Blantyre/North Hamilton 
  

300,000 
  

7,500 
  



  Figures not available as capital/current split not yet agreed.

Tourism

Fergus Ewing (Inverness East, Nairn and Lochaber) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive when it last met representatives of the Scottish Tourist Board and what matters were discussed.

Mr Alasdair Morrison: Henry McLeish met with Lord Gordon and his board on 15 October. They discussed the findings of the recent consultation exercise and the development of the new strategy for the Scottish tourism industry.

Transport

Mr John Swinney (North Tayside) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive when it expects to approve the construction of grade-separated junctions at the Glamis and Kirriemuir junctions of the A90 Forfar bypass.

Sarah Boyack: We expect to publish draft enabling orders for this work early in the New Year.